Russell G. Bellar, owner of Bellar’s Place, Inc., a 1,200 acre deer farm near Peru, Ind., pleaded guilty today in federal court in South Bend, Indiana, to two felony violations of the Lacey Act, including conspiracy, and one felony violation of a federal food and drug law. As part of the plea agreement, Bellar will pay a $5,000 fine, $120,000 restitution for investigative costs, and a $450,000 payment in lieu of the forfeiture of assets listed in the 38-count indictment. Bellar has also agreed to assist the government in its on-going investigation. Bellar may also face a prison sentence of up to two years. Sentencing for possible prison time will not take place until this spring.
Bellar, 57, and farm manager Hinds Thomas Jones, 36, were charged July 15, 2004, with 38 counts of illegally selling and transporting wildlife across state boundaries; facilitating the illegal killing and transportation of wildlife; knowingly providing false information to federal agents; and, illegally introducing chemicals into food-producing wildlife for interstate transfer. Jones pleaded guilty January 3 to conspiracy to violating the Lacey Act, a federal wildlife protection law.
Bellar pleaded guilty to three of the charges today, a day after the government had rested its case and before a jury began its deliberations. More than 50 witnesses testified against Bellar during the seven-day trial, including personalities Jimmy Houston, host of the television show “Jimmy Houston Outdoors,” country musician Ronnie Dunn and Fox Sports Net South television host Joey Mines.
Evidence presented during the trial established Bellar conducted at least 51 illegal deer hunts on his property since January 2001. Bellar’s customers -- many of whom were from outside Indiana, were unlicensed, used illegal weapons or bait -- paid between $4,000 and $20,000 to select and shoot a white-tailed buck in the enclosed preserve. The deer were often drugged prior to being placed into small pens where they were killed. Once killed, the deer’s antlers, hides and drug-contaminated meat were illegally transported, often across state boundaries. Although Bellar’s Place, Inc., was licensed by the State of Indiana as a game breeding facility, the license did not allow the sale of deer for hunting. To sell a specific deer for hunting is illegal in Indiana.
Interstate transportation of wildlife-- including hides or parts--obtained in violation of state law violates the Lacey Act. The practice of killing animals within an enclosed space for the purpose of obtaining a trophy is known as “canned hunting.” Currently, there are no federal laws prohibiting canned hunts in the United States.
Bellar’s guilty plea is the result of a joint investigation into illegal deer hunting by special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and law enforcement agents of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations also assisted the investigation. The Northern District of Indiana U.S. Attorney’s Office, represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald J. Schmid, presented the case in federal court.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
